Why use anti-fatigue mats?
Anti-fatigue mats are designed to reduce tiredness and stress on the feet, legs, and lower back for workers who stand in one position for long periods of time (e.g. an entire 8-hour shift). While anti-fatigue mats can help reduce weariness, no single solution can eliminate it – even sitting or lying down for extended periods needs a break! Scientific studies show that standing for long stretches of time is particularly stressful and fatiguing, especially if it’s in a static position.  Regardless of the quality of shoes and quality of the flooring underfoot, simply standing causes tiredness after an entire workday on a level comparable to exercise!
The most benefit with the least effort.
Fatigue and discomfort in the feet, legs, and lower back are caused by multiple factors – not just what’s underfoot. The overall ergonomic design of a workstation, a worker’s footwear choice, and the type of flooring underneath an anti-fatigue mat all combine to contribute to the overall tiredness caused by standing for long periods.
Adding stools or elevated chairs to encourage workers to alternate between sitting and standing can help reduce fatigue, but not all workstations are conducive to a seated working position. Encouraging the purchase and use of high-quality footwear that provides adequate arch and heel support and sufficient cushioning can also help reduce worker fatigue, but it’s not a factor that an employer can directly control. Installing flooring in work areas that provides some elasticity (like rubber, carpet, or cork) can also provide a benefit, but often the needs of the work area are incompatible with these types of flooring (e.g. a sterile or anti-static environment is needed).
The easiest method to improve worker comfort is to supply anti-fatigue mats. Anti-fatigue mats typically do not require any special installation or change to your existing installed flooring, and come in an incredible variety of styles, sizes, and special attributes to meet the needs of even special-purpose work environments.
What are the benefits of anti-fatigue mats?
Providing anti-fatigue mats can increase worker comfort and reduce productivity lost to injuries and sick time. Supplying anti-fatigue mats can also even improve morale in the workplace, because it’s a plainly visible, measurable way to demonstrate that the company cares about the health, safety, and well-being of its employees above and beyond occupational health and safety regulatory standards.
